Siegmund Klein - 2021 NFHOF Inductee
(Born: April 10, 1902 – Died: May 24, 1987) - "Sig" Klein was born in Torun, Germany and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio a year later. He was a German-American strongman, bodybuilder, magazine publisher and gymnasium owner prominent in physical culture.
In 1924, Klein arrived in New York City and arranged to take over operation of a gymnasium previously owned by Louis Attila. Klein met and later married Attila's daughter Grace. In July 1926, Klein opened his own gym at 207 West 48th Street/717 Seventh Avenue. Klein's "Physical Culture Studio" became one of the most well-known gyms in the U.S. in the 1940s and 1950s. He closed his gym for the first time in November 1968 to attend Bob Hoffman's 70th birthday party. It closed permanently after 48 years of operation in 1974.
Klein published his own magazine, Klein's Bell, from June 1931 to December 1932, when it merged with Bob Hoffman's new Strength & Health, for which Klein began writing in 1933. In addition to Hoffman's and Weider's magazines, Klein was on the covers of Iron Man, Vim and Physical Culture magazine.
The organization that became the Association of Old-time Barbell & Strongmen (AOBS) began with Vic Boff, Leo Murdock and others putting together a surprise 80th birthday party for Klein in 1982. The strong interest by attendees at this and several follow-up events solidified the formation of a group that honors old time champions and preserves weightlifting history. Klein died of cancer in 1987 at age 85, survived by his wife and a daughter.
Henry W. Titus - 2012 NFHOF Inductee
Professor Titus was a weightlifter and strongman who sold books on how to become as strong as him. (Complete bio to come)
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